In case you missed it: The Top 10 Badass Defensive Players and the Top 10 Badass Offensive Players in Arizona football history

Semifinals Arizona Elite Eight Event Matchup:
>> Poll: 1996-1997 versus 2000-2001. Story: TucsonCitizen.com game story
>> Poll: 1987-1988 versus 1993-1994. Story: TucsonCitizen.com game story

First Round Arizona Elite Eight Event Matchups:
>> Poll: 1987-1988 versus 2010-2011. Story: TucsonCitizen.com analysis
>> Poll: 1993-1994 versus 2004-2005. Story: TucsonCitizen.com analysis
>> Poll: 1996-1997 versus 2002-2003. Story: TucsonCitizen.com analysis
>> Poll: 1975-1976 versus 2000-2001. Story: TucsonCitizen.com analysis

EDITOR NOTE: The following is a fictional depiction of what could occur between the 1996-97 and 2000-01 teams.

We take you back to McKale Center …

Indicative of the 1996-97 team’s resiliency, it never gave up after falling behind by as many as 22 points. Mike Bibby, Miles Simon and Co. forced the 2000-01 team into an uncharacteristic 21 turnovers, including 12 during the game’s final 11 minutes. Conversely, the 1996-97 team committed just six turnovers the entire game and outscored the the 2000-01 team in points off turnovers by a 25-6 margin.

After a resounding dunk on a breakaway by Richard Jefferson gave the 2000-01 team its largest lead of 54-32 with 11:21 left in the game, the 2000-01 team committed turnovers on four straight possessions giving the 1996-97 team life and momentum. The 1996-97 team took advantage of the sloppy passes, slicing the 2000-01 lead to nine points — 54-45 — with 6:35 to play.

Mike Bibby had the opportunity to put the 1996-97 on top with a four-point play in the waning seconds

The 2000-01 team, behind two three-pointers from Gilbert Arenas, used an 8-3 spurt and took what looked like an insurmountable 14-point lead — 62-48 — with only 4:37 remaining.

That’s when Bibby started to take over, scoring 11 of the next 18 points for the 1996-97 team. The 2000-01 team would score just five points during the next four minutes. That stretch included four turnovers by the 2000-01 team, which also went 3-for-6 from the free throw line in that span. A Bibby three-pointer cut the lead to seven points with 1:46 left in regulation, followed by a Bennett Davison free throw and layup from Michael Dickerson that cut the 1996-97′s deficit to 64-60 with 59 seconds to play.

Jason Gardner, a career 77.8 percent free-throw shooter, then split a pair at the charity stripe for the 2000-01 team before Bibby, who was fouled by Wright on an aggressive move to the basket, swished two free throws to get the 1996-97 team within 65-62 with 44 seconds left.

Again, the 2000-01 team split two free throws (by Loren Woods) on their next possession before A.J. Bramlett scored on a tip-in to get the 1996-97 Wildcats within 66-64 with 26 seconds remaining. With the McKale Center crowd on its feet, and the roar deafening, the 1996-97 team put up a strong press on the inbounds. The 2000-01 team managed to get the ball up the floor before Jefferson was fouled with 12 seconds left.

Richard Jefferson had a solid game for the 2000-01 team

Jefferson split yet another pair of free throws for the 2000-01 team to give it a 67-64 lead. That’s when unthinkable happened. Bibby took the inbounds and handled the ball to the other end of the court. He pulled up at the top of the key for an off-balance three-point attempt that hit nothing but net with six seconds left while being fouled by Gardner, who lost his balance and barreled into Bibby. That tied the game at 67 and gave Bibby the chance to put the 1996-97 team ahead.

Lute Olson called a timeout to try to ice Bibby, who teammate Jason Terry once said had “ice water in his veins.” Olson also devised a plan in the huddle — for each team — depending on the outcome of Bibby’s free-throw attempt.

The 1996-97 team, invoking memories of its improbable comeback win over South Alabama in the first round of the 1997 NCAA tournament, used a 35-13 run over the final 10:02 to tie the game at 67 and put the game in Bibby’s hands with six seconds remaining.

Bibby calmly sized up the free throw, gave a slight deep breath and swished the free throw completing the four-point play and putting the 1996-97 team ahead for the first time since the 17:56 mark of the first half.

The 2000-01 team tried to get a clean shot off but the 1996-97 defense was strong enough to cause Gardner to come up short on a contested three-point shot at the buzzer. The 1996-97 survived with the 68-67 victory. It advances to the Arizona Elite Eight Event championship against either the 1987-88 or 1993-94 teams.

NOTES:

Reserve forward Eugene Edgerson played for both teams. He was a member of both squads, as was reserve forward Justin Wessel. … Bibby finished with a team-high 21 points for the 1996-97 team and he also had eight assists with only three turnovers. Arenas poured in 24 points for the 2000-01 team. … The 2000-01 team lost despite out-rebounding the 1996-97 team 37-26. Michael Wright led the 2000-01 team with 11 boards. Richard Jefferson had a strong game for the 2000-01 team with 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists).

BOXSCORE

(1996-97) ARIZONA 68, (2000-01) WILDCATS 67

1996-97 ARIZONA: Mike Bibby 6-12 6-6 21, Miles Simon 5-13 4-4 14, Michael Dickerson 3-5 4-6 13, Bennett Davison 2-7 1-2 5, A.J. Bramlett 3-7 2-3 8, Jason Terry 3-6 1-2 7, Eugene Edgerson 0-2 0-0 0, Donnell Harris 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-54 18-23 68.

2000-01 WILDCATS: Jason Gardner 2-2 5-6 10, Gilbert Arenas 8-14 5-7 24, Richard Jefferson 3-7 7-10 13, Michael Wright 2-5 4-5 8, Loren Woods 2-4 1-2 5, Luke Walton 1-5 1-2 3, Eugene Edgerson 1-2 1-2 3, Justin Wessel 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 19-39 25-36 67.

Halftime score: (2000-01) Wildcats 40, (1996-97) Arizona 24.

3-point goals: (1996-97) Arizona 4-8 (Bibby 3-5, Dickerson 1-2, Terry 0-1, Simon 0-2). (2000-01) Wildcats 4-9 (Arenas 3-4, Gardner 1-2, Jefferson 0-2, Walton 0-1).

Rebounds: (1996-97) Arizona 26 (Bramlett 9, Davison 4, Simon 3, Edgerson 3, Bibby 2, Dickerson 2, Harris 2, Terry), (2000-01) Wildcats 37 (Wright 11, Jefferson 7, Woods 6, Walton 4, Edgerson 4, Gardner 3, Arenas 2).

Assists: (1996-97) Arizona 18 (Bibby 8, Simon 3, Terry 3, Dickerson 2, Bramlett, Davison). (2000-01) Wildcats 17 (Gardner 9, Walton 3, Jefferson 3, Arenas 2).

Turnovers: (1996-97) Arizona 6 (Bibby 3, Davison 2, Simon). (2000-01) Wildcats 21 (Gardner 6, Arenas 5, Jefferson 4, Wright 3, Woods 2, Edgerson).

Steals: (1996-97) Arizona 11 (Terry 3, Bibby 3, Dickerson 2, Davison, Simon, Bramlett). (2000-01) Wildcats 5 (Gardner 2, Jefferson 2, Wright).

Blocked shots: (1996-97) Arizona 4 (Bramlett 2, Davison, Dickerson). (2000-01) Wildcats 3 (Woods 2, Wright)

Personal fouls: (1996-97) Arizona 23 (Bramlett 4, Simon 4, Edgerson 3, Davison 3, Bibby 3, Dickerson 2, Terry 2). (2000-01) Wildcats 21 (Arenas 4, Woods 4, Jefferson 4, Wright 3, Walton 3, Wessel 2, Gardner).

Technicals: None. Attendance: 14,724.